REPORTED MOVE OF GOVERNMENT TO HAND OVER MAJOR AIRPORTS TO PRIVATE SECTOR

SHRI TAPAN KUMAR SEN (WEST BENGAL): Sir, please mind the clock. ..(Interruptions).. Sir, please mind the clock. That is my first request. I rise to draw the attention of this House to a surreptitious move of privatization of the Indian airports after pumping public money in modernizing those airports. The first tranche of proposal is listed. Request for qualification has been invited for Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Jaipur Airports. And, as per the question replied in Rajya Sabha, some time last year, it has been admitted by the Government that only for Chennai and Kolkata Airports, 3,700 crores of rupees were invested for modernizing and expanding space, making space for more shops. Similarly, 20 airports in the country were modernized with public money spending around 27,000 crores of rupees. Now, after modernizing them, their operation, management and control is being transferred to private agencies in lieu of some rent, and that is very meagre revenue sharing. This is not in the interest of the country. I don’t understand how the Airports Authority of India, who has built the airport network in the country, is being belittled like this, is being virtually converted into a rentier by handing over the operation and management to the private agencies after modernizing it, and this transfer is taking place practically free of cost. How should this loot of public money be allowed? What is its propriety? I think the Government must come out with a clear explanation. It was attempted earlier also. It was raised in this House and subsequently it was shelved. But again, it has started with privatization of these four airports and thereafter other 16 airports, on which, again, public money was put for modernization, are under the pipeline of similar handing-over of the control and minting money out of the non-aeronautical commercial revenue. I think this is not permissible. That money should come to public exchequer. Sir, I would like to draw the attention of this House that Government may decide, but the concerned people and the people of the country are not going to accept that lying down. Already, all the Unions of the Airports Authority of India are agitating on it ..(Interruptions).. and on 11th of March, they are going for a strike in all the airports. ..(Interruptions).. I urge upon you (Time-bell) in consideration of the general disapproval of the people, the Government must take a ..(Interruptions).. (ends)

 

SHRI RITABRATA BANERJEE (WEST BENGAL): Sir, I associate myself with the issue raised by the hon. Member.

DR. K.P. RAMALINGAM (TAMIL NADU): Sir, I also associate myself with the issue raised by the hon. Member.

SHRI K.N. BALAGOPAL (KERALA): Sir, I also associate myself with the issue raised by the hon. Member.

SHRI T.K. RANGARAJAN (TAMIL NADU): Sir, I also associate myself with the issue raised by the hon. Member.

SHRI K.C. TYAGI (BIHAR): Sir, I also associate myself with the issue raised by the hon. Member.

SHRI JESUDASU SEELAM (ANDHRA PRADESH): Sir, I also associate myself with the issue raised by the hon. Member.

SHRI PANKAJ BORA (ASSAM): Sir, I also associate myself with the issue raised by the hon. Member.

 

 

SHRI SITARAM YECHURY (WEST BENGAL): Sir, I associate myself with the hon. Member. I just want to add one sentence.

 

SHRI SITARAM YECHURY (CONTD.): Ten years ago, this House endorsed with the then Government’s decision that apart from Delhi and Bombay airports, all other airports – thirty five; the other two metros and thirty five non-metro airports, will be modernized by the Airports Authority of India. Now, under what authority is this being reversed today? What my colleague Shri Tapan Kumar Sen has raised is absolutely correct. Now, under what authority is this policy being reversed today? Now, that is something which is not permissible, Sir, and we register our protest. …(Interruptions)…